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Text. Verse 18

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"Hymn to Kali", by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922],

p. 86

Verse 18

He
who at night, when in union with his "akti", 1 meditates with centred mind 2 on Thee, O Mother with gently smiling face, as on the breast of the corpse-like iva, lying on a fifteen-angled yantra 3 deeply enlisted in sweet amorous play with Mahkla, 4 himself becomes the destroyer of the God of Love. 5

Commentary

\"'Mother' (Janan)"

The Progenitrix.

"'At night' (Nakta)"

Midnight. Brihannla-Tantra says, 'He who is intent on meditation at midnight or early dawn surely sees the supremely blissful aspect of Dev.'

"'Meditates' (Dhyyet)"

'On Thee as not different from the Sdhaka's own tm, who art Cidbhsa in his body as a Yantra.' Gandharva-Tantra says, 'He who is in Advaitabhva, and thinks of the self as Devat in the three forms of body thinks of Her and his tm as one. He should worship the Dev as tm with the articles prescribed. The Yantra which is one's own body should be considered the best of all Yantras.' Again 'He who meditates on the Nirgua, unattached pure tm of Tripura as not being different from his own tm becomes one with Her.'

"'Thee' (Tv)"

That is, Brahmamay.

p. 87

\"'Smiling face' (Smera-vadan)"

Because She is ever blissful, being Bliss itself.

"'On the breast' (Mahklenoccih)"

On the breast of iva who is inactive like a corpse. She divides Herself into two parts like a grain of gram, namely, iva and akti by means of My associated with Icc, Kriy, Jna, whilst at the same time remaining established in Her Nirgua-Brahman state.

"'Fifteen-cornered seat' (Tripancre pithe)"

This is the Sdhaka's own body conceived as the Yantra in which Avidy is the encompassing circle, the eight-fold Prakti consisting of Earth and so forth is the eight-petalled lotus, the five Jnendriya, the five Karmendriy, and five Pra are the five Triangles and the Bindu which is Consciousness reflected in My composed of pure Sattvagua is the adorning Bja. The Gandharva-Tantra says, 'The Cakramantramaya is the Devat's Supreme Body which is iva-akti.' The Bhagavadgt says, 'Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Manas, Buddhi, Ahakra, these Tattvas constitute my eightfold Prakti.' Gandharva-Tantra says, 'The subtle body composed of uncompounded (Apackta) Bhta and equipped with five Pras, Manas, Buddhi and ten Indriya is the vehicle for Enjoyment. Unbeginning and undefinable (Anirvcy) Avidy is the causal Updhi. Know tm to be different from the three-fold Updhi.'

"'Deeply enlisted' (Madanarasalvayanirat)"

Always united in the reverse (Viparta) way with Paramaiva the Saguabrahman. The Gandharva-Tantra says, 'When that Supreme akti by putting that Purua down, of Her will appears as the universe then She becomes passionate. And then becoming Herself active the Dev rises upon Bhairava and enhances Her own bliss with waves of natural pleasure.'

"'Himself also enjoying' (Svayam api ratnandaniratah)"

Enjoying the bliss of union in Laya with Paramtm by Yoni-mudr and becoming aktimaya himself. The Gherada-Sahit says, 'He should do Yoni-mudr and himself become aktimaya.

p. 88

[paragraph continues] He should move in Paramtm with the good ngrarasa. Becoming nandamaya he should be one with Brahman.
'

"'Destroyer of Kma' (Smarahara)"

The Advaita-sdhaka attains Kaivalya by being merged in Thee who art Paramtm.

Footnotes

86:1
p. 88 "Svayam api ratnandaniratah", of which the meaning is as follows: "yad sdhakah akty saha maithunakriysakto bhavati, tad sa lokokta-dhyna-prakrnusrea devi dhyyati".

86:2
\"Samsaktah", concentrated on Thee.

86:3
Klkalpalat says it is a kind of "yantra" (diagram).

"Tripcre pthe". The "Yantra". The "Kli-Tantra" says, 'First draw a triangle. Outside it put another. Next draw three triangles. In the centre draw the "Baindava-Cakra" adorned with the "My Bja". Draw a circle outside the six-cornered figure. Next draw the eight petals attached to the outer circle and "Bhpura". He who knows this great "Yantra" surely attains liberation.' "Bhpura" is the gross body composed of the five "Bhtas" (V). It is made with five triangles superimposed.

86:4
\"Mahkalenoccair-madana-rasa-lvaya-nirat". "Mahkla" is "Paramaiva" (V). "Madana-rasa-lvaya-nirat" refers to "Vipartarati" (v).

86:5
\"Smarahara". The destroyer of "Kma" is "iva" Himself (v).

That is, he becomes "iva" Himself, who destroyed "Smara" the "Deva" of Love (Kma), with Fire from His central eye, when the latter, by the excitation of desire (towards Prvat), sought to detract him from his "yoga". Or it may be translated 'excels in beauty the God of Love.'
veda in sanskrit| veda in sanskrit
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